Texas Standard

Texas A&M professors sue over race and gender teaching rules

Texas A&M professors are suing the university system over restrictions on teaching about race and gender identity. We’ll discuss the legal challenge. Some Latino voters in Texas who supported Donald Trump in 2024 say they’re reconsidering that decision ahead of this year’s midterm elections. We’ll hear what’s driving the shift. The American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply… Source

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Gov. Abbott pauses new Texas data centers for state audit

A look at why Sen. John Cornyn decided to back President Trump’s choice for Attorney General, Todd Blanche, after all — and what’s next. Also, why Gov. Greg Abbott has hit the brakes on any new data center projects for now. Plus, the late U.S. Rep. Kay Granger’s enduring legacy. And plans are underway in Austin for a new housing development for victims of human trafficking and children fleeing… Source

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Texas backtracks after wrongly flagging voters as noncitizens

A voter purge is being rolled back in Texas after some eligible voters were wrongly flagged as potential noncitizens. We’ll discuss what happened and what it means ahead of the midterms. Also, for recent college graduates across Texas, the job market can be a difficult reality check. We’ll look at why landing that first job is proving tougher than many expected. Plus… Source

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Revisiting ‘Out of the Blue,’ 60 years after the UT Tower shooting

Columbine. Sandy Hook. Santa Fe High School. Robb Elementary: Touchstones for a sense of shared tragedy. School shootings have become a part of modern life, but what do we remember of the event that opened this chapter 60 years ago? On Aug. 1, 1966, a sniper climbed to the top of the University of Texas Tower, opening fire on an unsuspecting public below. No one had any way to make sense of it. It was an event so unthinkable at the time, many of those who lived through it only started to share their stories in recent years. Today: A special edition of the Texas Standard, “Out of the Blue: 60 years after the Texas Tower shooting.” The post Revisiting ‘Out of the Blue,’ 60 years after the UT Tower shooting appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Laredo’s drag performers and allies navigate changing landscape

Texas public radio stations teamed up to tell the story of what happened after the July 4, 2025, floods — then deadly storms hit again. A conversation on how “After the Flood” updated its coverage. After years of being legal, possessing products containing Delta-8 is about to be a felony in Texas. We’ll have a look at how we got to this point. A state sales tax break for data centers may be costing the state billions. We’ll go over the debate in the Legislature over whether it should stay in place. Plus, the chilling effect of a Texas law regulating drag performances. Our multimedia journalist tracked the impact in Laredo. And if we told you railroad vine was blooming in Texas, where would you guess those flowers were popping up? We’ll tell you about these blooms that thrive in intense heat and direct sun. That, plus a wrap of the week in Texas politics and more. The post Laredo’s drag performers and allies navigate changing landscape appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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A peek inside a Texas wolf sanctuary

A new poll has James Talarico up five points over Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate. We’ll have a look at how money and scandal could factor in. Texas shifted a lot of foster care responsibilities to third party contractors about a decade ago — but now, many have closed their doors. We’ll find out what we can learn from a key example. There’s a civil war of sorts going on at a Houston megachurch. We’ll share a look at what a recent ruling means for a congregation’s right to control church business. No matter where you are, data centers are one of the hottest topics in Texas right now. But what exactly are they? We’ll dig in. And we’ll take you to a Texas sanctuary for wolves and wolf dogs — and dispel some myths. The post A peek inside a Texas wolf sanctuary appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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Floods delay Corpus Christi water emergency until 2028

Heavy rains replenished reservoirs and helped Corpus Christi delay a water emergency. We’ll explore how city leaders will use the extra time. Also ahead: Concerns over data centers cross party lines in rural parts of the state. Democrats are using the issue to win over some Republican voters. Plus, the latest “Map the Meal Gap” study shows Texas has the largest number of residents coping with food insecurity. We’ll delve into the details. And you’ve heard of the SAT and ACT… What about the CLT? Why supporters want this test included as an option to college entrance exams. The post Floods delay Corpus Christi water emergency until 2028 appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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Texas foster care rulings strengthen parental rights

Policies in Texas over when children should be removed from their parents are shifting. What do experts say about the changes? Ken Paxton just lost a step in the first major case against an alleged violator of Texas’ abortion ban. We’ll dig into what the ruling may indicate about the law. There have long been talks about connecting parts of Texas by rail, but a route between Austin and San Antonio is unlikely to happen anytime soon. We’ll explore why. Oil prices are down but gas prices aren’t likely to fall as quickly. A look at the factors at play behind the pump. Plus, why it matters that father figures are involved in reading programs. The post Texas foster care rulings strengthen parental rights appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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School finance lawsuit heads to court

Midland ISD claims the way schools are funded has turned them into the state’s tax collector — in violation of the Texas constitution. We’ll dig into what this means and why it matters way beyond Midland. Recent flooding in South Texas brings something dangerous to the surface: Breakaway buoys in the Rio Grande. In a dystopian future, a young woman tries to make sense of her world, piecing together fragments of the not-so-distant past. A conversation with Texas-based author Mary Helen Specht about her new novel, “Mudlark.” The post School finance lawsuit heads to court appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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San Antonio seeks psychedelic therapy trials for veterans

As cleanup continues after massive rains in the Hill Country, a storm from the east threatens the Texas Gulf Coast. An update on Tropical Storm Bertha: After making landfall in Louisiana, the storm headed back into the gulf. Forecasters fear it could loop back into South Texas. Texas’ World Cup summer has come and gone — almost. In Houston, an early accounting of the impact. San Antonio — a center for research on soldiers and PTSD, and how it could become central to research on some unconventional therapies. Plus, brisket prices gotcha down? Tri-tips and other tips from Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn. The post San Antonio seeks psychedelic therapy trials for veterans appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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New book recounts fishermen’s Gulf of Mexico survival story

President Trump is trying to renegotiate trade agreements with our nearest neighbors —again. Why is Canada so upset? Much has been made over the political leanings of the Texas Rio Grande Valley. How are things looking for Senate candidates James Talarico and Ken Paxton in the run-up to November? An iconic LGBT night spot is facing a shutdown threat — so what happened to the San Antonio mayor’s promises to help keep it open? Plus, we’ll introduce you to a Kerrville couple rebuilding once again after a second year of extreme flooding. And bestselling author Michael J. Tougias recalls a harrowing true story set in the Texas gulf with his new book “In Deep Water.” The post New book recounts fishermen’s Gulf of Mexico survival story appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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John Cornyn donors hesitate to back Ken Paxton

Torrential rain and flash flooding have swelled lakes in the Hill Country, forcing authorities to open floodgates. Also, why many major donors who supported Sen. John Cornyn are not backing Ken Paxton. Also, how Texas became a leader in semiconductor chip exports — and why the industry is now booming. Plus, a fashion show in Dallas puts models with disabilities at the center of the runway. And black-tailed prairie dogs are back at the Fort Worth Nature Center. We’ll have details on Prairie Dog Town and a new viewing deck. The post John Cornyn donors hesitate to back Ken Paxton appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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Big Bend’s dark skies face a new threat

After a week of devastating floods in the Hill Country, it’s now about clean-up and recovery. We’ll have the latest from Kerrville and more. There are two dead and hundreds rescued after floodwaters rose to record levels for a second time in as many years last week. Concerns are now about the effects downstream. In Uvalde, the flooding is testing the resilience of a community. Also, with midterms just a few months away, Gov. Greg Abbott appoints Robert Howden to oversee elections across Texas as the new secretary of state. Concerns are rising about how a border wall will affect the dark skies of far West Texas. Also, a spotlight on the great Bob Wills. The post Big Bend’s dark skies face a new threat appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

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An update from Kerrville after floods again rattle region

There are two confirmed fatalities in Texas’ Hill Country as rescues continue and precipitation finally begins to taper off. We’ll have an update on the flooding across Texas from Lucio Vasquez of the Texas Newsroom standing by in Kerrville. Rising food prices aren’t just making it tougher for more Texas families, but also for pantries and food banks trying to bridge the gap. We’ll hear what they’re up against. There’s a new competitor in the hemp beverage business — but as demand grows here in Texas, so does pressure for greater regulation. Plus, the week in Texas politics. Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org The post An update from Kerrville after floods again rattle region appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.